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How long would you want to live?

BY Josh Kerns  on August 27, 2012 @ 10:32 am (Updated: 4:19 pm - 8/27/12 )

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A new report raises questions about how long people really want to live (AP image)
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With life expectancy continuing to climb, a new report is raising the age-old question: How long would you want to live?

With life expectancy continuing to climb, a new report is raising the age-old question: How long would you want to live?

The conversation on Monday's Ross and Burbank stemmed from a story in The New York Times reporting scientists continue making major strides in combating aging. Science reporter David Ewing Duncan said he posed the question about how long you'd like to live to nearly 30,000 people during talks over the last three years.

The results: some 60 percent opted for a life span of 80 years. Another 30 percent chose 120 years, and almost 10 percent chose 150 years. Less than 1 percent embraced the idea that people might avoid death altogether.

Unless there are some major breakthroughs, Ross said he can't envision living to 120.

"If I look like the average 120 year old looks today, no."

"My ideal is to stay in shape and then at some point when the body gives up just sort of keel over. I do not want to spend any time in a nursing home. If you're going to spend the last 20 years of your life hooked up to something I don't see much point to that," Ross said.

"I fear getting old really bad, Dave," guest co-host Andrew Walsh. "I think about it all the time," said the 35-year-old.

But both noted age still seems relative, with each feeling in many ways the same they did years ago.

"I think if you take care of yourself and get a little exercise and walk a lot you can feel great," Ross said. "I think the question posed by this is do we want to spend a lot of research and money on extending lives 20 or 30 years or spend it on something else."

One thing is clear from the report, unless someone comes up with an anti-aging drug, few if any want to live forever.

Dorothy in DuPont had some advice for Andrew:

Andrew, Don't be afraid of getting old. It turns out to be relative. I have a daughter your age (Dave knows her from G&S). I was 42 when she was born and I cried because I was so old. Now she and I are both pretty wonderful. I'll be 89 next birthday, walk 2 miles a day, and do Tai Chi twice a week. Still pursuing career goals. As long as I can wake up every morning excited about the possibilities of the day ahead, I'm still the person I always was. Nothing to fear.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (15)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Hmmm.....
    August 27, 2012 9:54 am
    It depends on who and when you ask. Most under 50 may cite an age but most older might just as well say 'another 20-30 years' whatever their current age.

    Or events? Ask a Cubs fan and it'll be until they win the World Series - maybe a Mariner fan, too. Formula for immortality. .... But what then happens AFTER your goal comes to pass?

    Me, as I get older, just put goals in terms of other people. And that changes as other things change. 9 years ago, I just wanted a few more years, so stopped drinking. Now with 4 grand daughters I would never have otherwise seen born, I want to live long enough to see GREAT grand kids - or at least long enough that those 4 little girls are teenagers to harass THEIR parents.

    But, in reality, all we can ever ask of life is that we are relatively healthy and happy as long as we live, no matter how long that may be. ... And after that ?????????

    Heaven or oblivian, no one ever leaves this world alive. Be it 150 years or far, far less.

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  • John E wrote...
    Ron, you and me
    August 27, 2012 9:09 pm
    Apparently one of the worst killers worldwide is death. Approximately over 80% of us are afflicted by it sometime in our lives..
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  • 2112 wrote...
    Sure I wiould live till I was 120
    August 27, 2012 4:00 pm
    If I could look and feel like I did at 29.
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  • soo purletiv wrote...
    For
    August 27, 2012 4:38 pm
    Ever. And ever...

    Who in their sane mind ever wants to die?......

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  • SpellStitchedHawk wrote...
    You have not seen much of life
    August 27, 2012 5:56 pm
    To see loved ones slowly deteriorate from disease, lose their minds and memories, and become nothing more than flesh on a bed. I for one would much rather go out with a bang than die with a whimper.
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  • Forrest wrote...
    Well there goes Social Security and Medicare.
    August 27, 2012 5:54 pm
    No way can they support the elderly if they live to be 120. The average life span now is 78 and both are going broke. Might as well turn everybody over 80 into Soylent Green. Like my dad used to say, "after you turn 50 the only thing you're good for is baiting coyote traps". He work till he was 80 and lived till he was 94.
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  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Forrest...and who is responsible for THAT?
    August 27, 2012 6:17 pm
    ...
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  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Depends.
    August 27, 2012 6:16 pm
    If I'm relatively healthy, independent and have my faculties...sure. But if I'm bed ridden and wearing Depends...
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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    1920 the average life expectancy was less than 55.
    August 27, 2012 6:50 pm
    Some People had kids at 16, often went grey at 30, while others went to the hills and lasted into their 80s with relativity little trouble. The reasons why we live as long as we do is found in our food water and environment. Ifs all relative to how fast you burn the candle isint it. Sure 120 is good and you could be 90 and look like a modern 50 year old, or you could die at 50 but look like 70.
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  • MK wrote...
    Genesis 6:3
    August 27, 2012 6:58 pm
    Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future they will live no more than 120 years."
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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    for the sons of god and men took wives of man
    August 27, 2012 10:08 pm
    and god said that his spirit will not always live in man and he shall be numbered 120 years.
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  • fartforce1 wrote...
    but if you believe that, then you are wrong.
    August 27, 2012 10:14 pm
    It could also be said that Noa was 600 years when god had him make gofer wood into a boat, 600 lunar years. Or 50. The flood came 120 lunar years later, or 10 years. Because of Psalm 90:10 "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span3 is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." So now that you know truth, what will you chose to do with it?.
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  • Jeff Schroeder wrote...
    A Famous Willie Nelson Quote...
    August 27, 2012 8:46 pm
    "I can't believe I outlived my Dic"
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  • O-town listener wrote...
    Old enough
    August 28, 2012 12:09 pm
    to clone bodies and transfer consciousness...
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